Violin bridge



Aug. 3, 1948. HN 2,446,267

VIOLIN BRIDGE Filed May 24, 1945 Y Inventor Gear-96 Z Z/777 -By MPatented Aug. 3, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VIOLIN BRIDGE George.Dahn, Richmond, Va.

Application May-24, 1945, Serial No. 595,552,

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improved violin bridge characterized bycertain structural improvements and refinements such as coordinate, itis believed, in providing a bridge which better fulfills therequirements of volume plus resonance of tone.

It is a consensus of opinion, I believe, that two types of wooden violinbridges are most commonly in use. For example, there is the ever popularStradivarius and the more recently popular Gosparlin. The Gosparlinbridge is shown, for example, in U. S. Patent 1,783,117 of November 25,1930, whereas the somewhat conventional Stradivarius type is shown, butnot claimed in a patent to E. D. Dennis, U. S. 1,519,982 of October 7,1924. Various other styles and varieties have been manufactured, soldand experimented with, no doubt.

I have mentioned the aforementioned bridges in order to lay thefoundation for the fact that in carrying out the principles of theinstant invention, I have evolved and produced what is believed to be amore excellent and better balanced bridge which incorporates theessential features of both the Stradivarius and Gosparlin bridges and,in addition, introduces other features of design and construction, theseall contributing to the production of a strong but nevertheless flexiblebridge in which each string has an individual responsive and vibratoryseat or foundation.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is atop view, that is, a view observin the upper curvate edgeof a bridge as constructed in accordance with my idea.

Figure 2 is a face or elevational view of the same.

Figure 3 is an end view observing either end of the bridge.

Figure 4. is the central vertical or transverse section, this on theplane of the line 4--4 'of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals, itwill be seen that the bridge, as a unit, is denoted by the numeral '5and to the unobserving eye, resembles any ordinary wooden violin bridge.It includes a characteristically shaped and tapered body of standarddimension and has a central notch -B at its bottom defining feet I whichrest on the belly of the violin. In the lower half portion, I provideoutwardly and downwardly inclining slots 8 opening through the verticalends or edges 9 and terminating at their inner ends in enlarged holesIn. These are also more or less conventional features in violin bridges.

To observe the distinctions and refinements which characterize theimproved structure, the bridge should be imaginatively divided intothree regions or zones A, B and C. The central zone is provided with aso-called vertical slot II, this being at the direct center of theopposite half-portions A and C. This slot I I opens at its outer endthrough the usual crown or curvate edge I2 which is receptive of thefour strings A, E, D and G. Thus, at properly spaced points I providethe customary seats I3, I4, [5 and 1,6 for said strings.

On opposite sides and at equidistant points I provide auxiliary slotsIIa which coordinate with slot l I and these having the usualenlarged-holes I! at the inner ends. These slots a are companion totheslot II and therefore open through the crown edge I2 and convergeslightly. It followsthat the slot II divides the upper region of thebridge into halves A and C, and that the respective auxiliary slots Ilaextend into these areas or regions A and 'C as shown. All three slots IIand I la open through the edge I 2 between the seats I4 and 15, that isthe string seats for the strings A and D. Next, the areas or zones A andC are provided with short narrow kerfs or slots I8l8 and these actuallydivide the zones A and G into halves, as it were. Finally, there are diagonal slots I9 at opposite end portions having customary holes 2!] attheir inner ends, these slots l'9 intersecting and opening through thecorners, that is, the corners defined by the 'coacting edges 9 and I2,respectively. It will be noted that the string seats l3 and I6 for the Eand G strings are between the respective pairs of slots l8 and I9,respectively. It follows that this multiple arrangement of slotsactually defines four distinguishable sectors, one sector for eachstring, each sector being individually flexible and therefore responsiveto the string it accommodates.

My improved bridge is constructed so that it embodies the principlesbehind the Stradivarius bridge, plus the Gosparlin bridge. It actuallyembraces several Stradivarius bridges, as it were. The principles of theGosparlin bridge are employed to splice the bridge not in one but threeplaces so that each bridge of the three has full freedom to respond andvibrate. Other bridges beside the Stradivarius bridge in the past havetried to depart from the Stradivarius ideas resulting in either a poorquality of tone or simply a bridge with volume causing the instrument tosound as though it were fashioned of tin. The Gosparlin bridge isprobably the most constructive bridge ever patented. Yet, in my opinionneither Gosparlin nor Stradivarius attained the perfect violin bridgeeach desired to make. For that reason I have consolidated in one bothsuch bridges.

The bridge may be used on any of the violin family. Though it may appearweak it is actually stronger than the Gosparlin bridge, even when thebridge is less than an eighth of an inch thick at the foot and gives a,brilliant tone devoid of any tin sound. It will improve the tone of aharsh loud violin as well as a violin which has a feeble and sweet tonefor Stradivarius strove for sweetness of tone, while the Gosparlinbridge stressed volume. Combining the principles of ing feet and havingthe usual curvate crownboth bridges there is reason to believe that thisis a bridge which may be the ideal bridge.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction withthe invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader toobtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features ofmerit and novelty sufficient to clarify the construction of theinvention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts maybe resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made fromthe invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A violin bridge of conventional rectangular form including a bodyhaving pair of supporting feet and having the usual curvate crownedgefor reception of regular notches to seat the usual strings, the crownportion of said body having a central slot terminating at its inner endat the median zone of the body having its outer end opening through saidcrown-edge, and being further provided, on opposite sides of saidcentral slot with auxiliary slots, the latter converging toward saidcentral slot and also opening at their edge for reception of regularnotches to seat the usual strings, said crown-edge and the adjacentportion ofsaid body having a central slot terminating at its inner endat the median zone of the body and having its outer end opening throughsaid crown-edge, said body being further provided, on opposite sides ofsaid central slot with auxiliary slots, the latter converging towardsaid central slot and also opening at their outer ends through saidcrown-edge and said open outer ends being spaced and disposedequi-distant on opposite sides of said central slot, and a pair ofindividual diagonal corner-slots, each opening at its outer end througha co -acting corner of the body.

- GEORGE DAHN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,783,117 Gosparlin Nov. 25, 1930FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 63,157 Switzerland Mar. 10, 1913

